Transgender Awareness Week (November 13 – November 19) is a time to elevate the voices of transgender people, celebrate their resilience, and bring attention to the challenges they face—including discrimination, stigma, and systemic inequality. This week also leads up to Transgender Day of Remembrance, a solemn day to honor the lives lost to anti-transgender violence and prejudice.
The Elton John AIDS Foundation stands steadfast in supporting the transgender community. Through partnerships with organizations like Vision Community Foundation in Atlanta, we work to ensure that transgender people have safe and supportive spaces where they can access information on HIV prevention and care. One inspiring leader who embodies this commitment is Toi Washington-Reynolds —a trans advocate, faith leader at The Vision Church of Atlanta, and founder of the Trans Women of Color Healing Project.
Discovering The Vision Church of Atlanta
Toi’s journey began in 2010 when she first joined The Vision Church of Atlanta, a moment that redefined her life and purpose. At the time, Toi felt disconnected from herself and her faith. “I thought I was living life and I thought I had everything I needed but there was a void,” she recalls.
That Sunday, Toi found more than just fellowship—she found freedom and representation. For the first time, she felt fully accepted as a Black transgender woman. The Vision Church, under the ministry of Bishop O.C. Allen III, offered Toi the support and community she needed to see new possibilities for herself and embrace a larger purpose.
Embracing New Purpose: Leading and Advocating for Change
Faith communities can be powerful sources of hope, breaking down stigma and empowering everyone to live as their true selves. The Elton John AIDS Foundation proudly funds Vision Community Foundation’s “Prevention from the Pulpit” initiative, which partners with faith leaders to provide HIV training . Through this work, we reach key communities such as LGBTQ+ people, to offer a place to find belonging, purpose, and connection through faith—and gain access to stigma-free information about their sexual health and well-being.
These spaces and these conversations are groups that take away stigma, take away the stigma of the thing that we enjoy doing. We can’t talk about prevention because we’re afraid to talk about sex. – Toi
Inspired by the welcoming message of Vision Church of Atlanta, Toi founded the Trans Women of Color Healing Project, which creates spaces for healing, empowerment, and resilience for transgender women of color. “Prevention from the Pulpit has inspired me in the work I do daily as the executive director of the Trans Women of Color Healing Project. We work together to end stigma.”
Toi’s journey is a powerful reminder that faith and purpose transcend gender, and that true liberation comes from understanding and believing in the potential that is within each of us. As Toi says, “God created you with everything that you need. If you notice that there isn’t a seat for you at the table, you have the ability to make your own. Gender does not define who we are in spirit.”
Frequently asked questions
Is the transgender community more vulnerable to HIV?
The LGBTQ+ community is still one of the groups most affected by the HIV epidemic. In 2022, the relative risk of acquiring HIV was 23 times higher for gay men and other men who have sex with men than in the wider population globally, and the risk was 20 times higher for transgender women.
Source: UNAIDS – 2024 GLOBAL AIDS UPDATE
How does the Elton John AIDS Foundation support the transgender community?
Transgender people are particularly vulnerable to HIV because criminalization, discrimination, and violence stop people from accessing the care and services they need. In 2022, the relative risk of acquiring HIV was 20 times higher for transgender women than for people in the wider population globally.
At the Elton John AIDS Foundation we are focused on ensuring that everyone living with or at risk of HIV can access the support and services to protect their health without fear, judgement or shame. This means working in countries where the rights of any part of the LGBTQ+ community are under attack, from Uganda to Uzbekistan to the United States, and we will not stop until we have achieved health equality for all.
What can I do as an individual to be an ally for the transgender community?
- Educate yourself: learn about the experiences, history, and challenges faced by transgender people.
- Use inclusive language: always use correct pronouns and chosen names and avoid making assumptions about someone’s gender identity. This helps to create an environment where transgender individuals feel recognized and respected.
- Support transgender rights: Advocate for transgender rights by supporting policies, organizations, and initiatives that protect transgender people from discrimination.
Donate to the Elton John AIDS Foundation this Transgender Awareness Week to support more lifechanging work like this in the United States and around the world.
